Multiple switch



Match 26,. 1929.; J. J. LOHER 1 7 MULTIPLE SWIICH v Original Filed Feb.- 23, 192

UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS J. LOIIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS..

MULTIPLE SWIICI.

Application filed Febluaiy 23,- 1926, Seral No.89,906. Rencwed October 31, 1928.

lli v present invention relates generally to an'clectric switch and more particularly to the type known as a toggleewitch. Such a switch usually comprises a pair of terminals that are engaged and connected to orm a circuit by means of bellci*ank contact or connecter element that is pivoted at its apex and is operated by mcans of a small lever that projects through the wall plate to be manually moved by the operator. The bellcramk contact element is operatively connectcd to the lever in such manner that While the latter is being moved from one position to another, the connecting meohanism Will pass the dead-eenter between the fulcrums of the lever and bell-crank and Will cause the bell-crank to snag over to its other position.

far as I am aware it is the usual prac tice to mak'e and break a single circuit in switches of this character, but I have designed the structure so that a plurality oi circuits may be controlled and any one or more may be uscd at Will according to the sclcction made by the operator.

F or the sake of simplicity I have illustrated my invention in connection with two circuits either oi which may be formed by itself or both may be eut-in at the same time. I have provided very simple m'eans for accomplishing the function just stated and I do this in a novel and depcndable manner eo as to net mat-erially increase the cost of manufacture of the switch over the ordinary type of t0ggle-switcb. Briefiy stated, I utilizo the standard type et switch and mount thc bell-crank contact element upon a depressible carrier that is preerably hinged to the bridge-plate Of the switch box, and position the additional terminal for the second circuit adjacent the outgoing ter minal or lead of the regular Standard switch. I form notchcs upon an adjacent arm of the bcll-crank te coact with a hooked or lipped end of the additional terminal so that a ter the tiret or initial circuit is formed the operator may deprcss the carrier to permit the bell-crank to rotate faither and thercby engage tire additional terminal with one of the notches in the arm without engaging with the initial terminal. Furthcr depression of the carrier pn*mits further rotation et the bellcrank so that the notched arm leaves the initial terminal and en ages only the additional terminal thr.s cutting out the first circuit and leaving only the second circuit in use; A reverse movement of the operating lever moves the bell-crank to a position where it is disengaged from all of the ter minals and the circuits closed. In other words a movement o:t the bell-crank con nectOr membcr in one direetion forms one circuit and its movement in another direction forms the succeeding circuit or circuits, and in this conncction I prefer to have one of the arme constantly 'engagcd while the other member of the bell-crank is moved to or past the opposite terminals.

I preier to carry out my invention, and to accomplish thc several objecte thereof in substantially the manner hereinaftcr fully described and as more particularly pointcd out in the claims, reference bein'g made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view 01 m imprOved switch, the adjacent wall of the box or casing being removed and the top 01' wall-plate 0mitced, the switch coing shown in first position and operating the initial circuit.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the second positionassumed for cutting in two circuits.

Figure 3 is a simliar view showing the first circuit broken and the second circuit re maimng in use.

Figure 4: is a traUsveree vertical section taken on line 4.4c of Figure 1.

In the draWings similar reference charactors are used to designato the same parts whereve1 they appear throughout the several views. The drawings are more or less schematie for the purpoee oi illustrating a typical or preferred embodiment of my invention which consists of a housing or casing 5 of box-like form of insulating material and preferably of rectagular chape with one of the longitudinal walls omitted and across this open side of the box is placed a bridge plate 6 to carry the operating or movablo parts of the switch. The leadin terminal is an clonagted metal strip suitably bent so that an attaching portion 7 is provided that is securcd to an end Wall of the box and has an inwardly and upwardly extended end portion 8 that provides a terminal to be engaged by the circuit forming element 01" the switch when the switch is operated. The opposite terminal member is a bent metal strip,

a portion 9 of WhiCh is fiat and straight and is secured against the bottom wall of the box is well known,' are operated by selective rota tion et a switch key or by a plnrality of buttons. I have discloscd only a simple form in WlliCll my sw'tch may be made, for it Will l e obvions tl1at slight changes may be made to increase the number ofcircuits operated Withont departing from the principles I have discloscd herein and it Will be understood that such changes are fully contemplated as coming within the scope of the appended' claims.

VVhat I daim is l. A switch comprising a plurality '0f ter minals one of which is common to the others, and a contact nnmber normally disengaged -trom all of said terminale, said member movable in one direction to connect the common terminal with one of the other terminals and movable in another and dilerent direction to connect said common terminal with an" other 01 the other terminals while the mem ber romains in contact with the lirst connocted terminals.

2. A switch comprising a plurality of terminals, a terminal connnon to the first-mentioned terminals, and a contact member nor- 1nally disengaged 1"rom all ot said terminale, said memlcer movable in one direction to connect one of said first-mentioned terminale with said common terminal and movaole in a direction transverse to its first-mentioncd movement to connect another of said firstmentioned terminals with said common torminal While the member romains in contact with the first connected terminals.

3, A switch comprising a glnrality of ter minals, one of which is common to the others, and a contact member normally disengaged from all of said terminals, said member movable in directions transverse to eaclr otl1er wl1ereby the connnon terminal adaptcd to be connected with any one or more et the other tcrminals at the same time to form a plnrality et circuits throngh said n1ember.

4:. A switch comprising a plnrality of terminals, a terminal conm1on to the tiret-mentioned terminal, and a contact member norally disengaged 1ll ail et said terminals, sait! membcr l1aving pivotal move1nent to connect the common tor1 al with one of the tant-mentioned terminale, and l odily moral le in a dillerent direction. to connect said connncn terminal With another of said first- 1nentioned tCrminals While the member re 1naine in contact it-h the first connectod terminale.

5. A switch comprising a plurality et ter 1ninals a terminal common to the tirst-mentioned terminale, a pivoted contact mendier normally disengaged from all of said terminale, said member movable npon its pivot to connect said common terminal with one of said first-mentioned terminals, and an oscil latory carrier for sa1d contact member the movement of which causes said contact member to connect another of said first-mentioned tcrminals with said common terminal while the member remains in contact with the first connected terminalls. r

6. A sWitch comprising a plurality ot' ter minals, a terminal common to the tiret-men tioned terminals, a plate hinged adjacent said terminals and movable towards and. away from the same, and a contact mcmber pivotally mounted on said plate whereby the pivotal movement of said member connects the common terminal w'th one o;t said firstmentioned terminale and the hinging movement ot' said plate causes said member to connect said common terminal with anotner et said first-mentioned terminals.

A switch comprising a plnrality of terminals, a terminal common to the firstmen tioned terminale, a contact member normally disengaged trom all of said terminals, said member movable in one direction to connect the common terminal with one of the firstmcntioned terminals, and means upon which the member is mounted and adaptcd to more the member in a direction transverse to its first-mentioned movement to connect the common terminal with another of said firstmentioned terminals while the member remains in contact with the first connected terminals.

8. A switch comprising a plurality of ter minals, a terminal common to the firstanentioned terminals, a contact member normally disengaged tronc all of said terminale, said member movable in one direction to connect the common terminal With one of the firstmcntioned terminals, and movable in another and difierent direction while engaged with said terminal to connect the latter witli another of the firstmcntioned terminals.

9. A switch comprising a plurality of terminals, one of which is common to the otl1ore, and a contact membcr normally disengagcd 1r0ln all of said terminals, said member movalole in directions transverse to each other atter being engaged With the common terminal and another terminal whereby to con- .nect the common terminal also with any one or more of the remaining terminals.

10. A sw1tch comprising a pluralrty of terminals, and a contact member normally dis engaged from all ol said terminale, said member movable in one direction to connect pair of said terminals and movaole in an other and dilerent direction to connect another terminal With one of said pair wl1ere by a plurality of the other terminals may be simultaneously connected with the common terminal.

11. A switch comprising a plurality et terminals, and a contact member normally disengaged from all of said terminals, said member movable in directions transverse to each other whereby one movement Will con- 11oct a pair of said torminals and the ctl1er nmvcmont Wlll conncct anothcr terminal with one 01" .aid pair while the firstpair are connccted.

12. A switeh comprising a plurality U: terminals and a contact mcmbc-r normal cngaged lrom all o: said tcrmia mcmbcr having pivotal IHVQIB* 1t nect a pair of said terminale; 2 nd lucing movablo in a difi'crcnt direction to coma t another terminal with one 01" said pair While the l'irst pair arc conncctcd.

13. A switch comprising a plurality o; tcr minals, an oscillating contact mcmlou 101'- mally discngaged from all of said tcrminals, sacl mcmbcr movablo upoaits :luicrmn to conncc v a pair cl? said to minals, and a bingo carrier upon whica sald contact mcmbcr is pivoted tho movcmont 0' whcl1 c; rricr badily mores said contact mcmbcr to connect une 0110 of said pair 0' torminals Wili terminal.

A switch comprising a plaralit minals, and a contact mon lier norm:

1 engaged lrom all oE sai l termh 111cmbcr movable m 0110 c rcct1ou to connect; a pa1r cf sa1d ter1amals and movable m auotl1cr and dillcrcnt direction wl1ilc ongagcd with 021c ol said pair ct torminals to connect tho latter lcrminal witl1 anothcr terminal.

15. A switch con1prising a plurality cf torminals, a contact mcmber normally disengagcd from all of said tcrminals, caid memluer movable in lirccticns ansvcrsc to cach other onc cl said nmvements bcing made .J;

pivotal moxemcnt o said mombcr connccts L flic common terminal with (me of tl1c tirs?- nmmtioned tor1ninals and the movomcnt cl sa id support causes said mcml orto conncct said commun terminal with anotl1cr o thc 11rSt-mcntioncd terminals.

Signc l at- Chioago, in tlic county ol Coolc, and State cf Illinois, this 18th day ct Fobruary, 192G.

JULIUS J. LHER. 

